Turbine water-wheel



(No Model.)

J. T. KELLY, Sr.

TUBBINE WATER WHEEL.

No. 328.314. r Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

FII l a A Z Ell I Z lil UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN fr. KELLY, sE., OE JoNEsBOEoUGE, NORTH CAROLINA.

TURBINE WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328.314, dated October 13, 1885.

Application mec December 15, 1883.

.To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN T. KELLY, Sr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jonesborough,in the county of Moore and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine Vater- Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the fol'- lowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved turbine water-wheel, showing a portion of the casing broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the iumes, gate, casing, and wheel. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the bearing for the shaft, and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail view on line x a2, Fig. 4L.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

My invention has relation to that class of turbine water-wheels in which the waterows downward through inclined lumes or chutes, striking buckets inclined in the opposite direction, in which the flow of water through the inclined flumes is regulated by an annular gate; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates the cylindrical outer casing, the bottom of which is formed by a number of radial bars, B, united at the center, and supporting at that point an upright pin, C, upon which a socket, D, formed at the lower end of the vertical main shaft E iits and turns. The top of the casing is provided with a cover, F, which has a number of apertures, G, arranged in a circle near the periphery of the cover.

A sleeve, H, is secured around a central aperture, I,of the cover, projecting upward, and the upper end of this sleeve is provided with a bearing, J, in which the shaft turns, said bearing being formed by a collar, K, secured upon a flange, L, at the upper end of the sleeve, and provided with a number of recesses, M, radiating from its bore, which recesses are pro- Serial No. 114,632. (No model.)

vided with a number of bearing-blocks, N, of wood or soft metal.

The top of the bearing is closed by a disk, O, which is provided upon its underside, near the edge, with a number of downwardlypro jecting lugs, I?, which t into a number of grooves or recesses, Q, in the upper end of the bearing, being continuations of the upper portions of the radial recesses M.

B is an annular gate, which fits and turns around the base of the sleeve H, and the said gate has a number of inclined perforations, S, corresponding in size, shape, and relative distances to the perforations in the top of the casing.

By making the gate as above described three objects are accomplished. Being on top ofthe cover,the weight of the Water on it makes it virtually a water-tight gate, allowing no water to pass except through the openings. By being ring-shaped,and only wide enough to cover the holes in the top, there is not as much friction between it and the cover as if it covered the entire top; and, finally, it is held in place by the sleeve H, thus leaving the outer edge free from any friction witharetaining device, and by reducing the actual contact to the least by having the contact in a smaller circle.

Each of the perforations in the gate is provided with an inclined chute or hood, T, the upper side, U, of which is inclined in the direction of the revolution of the wheel, and at the same time toward the center of the gate, making the aperture or passageVof the chute narrower at the inner side than at the outer side. This allows a greater volume of water to strike the outer part ofthe buckets, where it will do the most Work, and the least water at the inner portion, where theleast is required and where it will be the least effective.

The wheel X consists of a cylindrical central portion, Y, which is secured upon the shaft and the buckets W, which are secured upon the periphery of the cylindrical portion of the wheel, and are inclined with their lower ends pointing away from the direction of the revolution of the wheel,standing at or nearly at right angles to the inclines of the chutes in the gate.

IOO

The edges G of the perforations G in the cover are beveled at about the same angle as the top of the chute or hood, so that the water will not be obstructed in the least in passing through the perforations, and will strike the floats or buckets at about right angles. It will be seen that by this arrangement the greatest force ofthe water will be utilized, and especially when the gate is only partly open, as the water will pass through in an unbroken stream, and strike the buckets with a greater velocity than if it were dellected by sharp oorners, or if it passed intoalarger chamber and from there into the buckets.

The gate is provided at a portion of its periphery with a segmental rack, Z, which is engaged by a pinion, A, upon a vertical shaft, B, journaled in bearings C upon the edge of the cover of the casing, the said shaft being capable of being revolved by any suitablemeans.

Two longitudinally-slotted plates, D', have abutting lugs E at their facing ends, and slide adjustably with their slots upon set-screws F at the ends of the throw of the segmental rack,

being capable of being adjusted so as to increase or decrease the length of throw of the rack, and consequently of the gate, which regulates the flow of water to the buckets of the wheel.

I am aware that it is not new to construct turbine water-wheels having hoods the mouths of which are provided with nieans for opening and closing thema I am also aware that hoods have been constructed with a movable top piece, by means of which theopenings in the cover have been opened and closed, and that perforated covers having a curved guard or shield have been used, beneath which a plate was caused to slide for opening and closing the openingsin the cover, and I do not claim any such construction, broadly; but I am not aware that turbine water-wheels have ever been constructed having a gate for opening and closing the holes in the cover, and having open-mouthed hoods rigidly secured thereto, whereby the water is always directed against the buckets of the wheel in the same direction, whether the gate be partly or entirely open. Therefore,

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The combination,witha perforated cover for downfl'ow turbine water-Wheels, of an annular gate sliding upon said cover, and having inclined perforations registering with the perforations in the cover, and having open-mouthed hoods rigidly secured thereto and forming a part of said gate, the tops of said hoods being inclined rearwardly and inwardly, as described, and means for securing said gate in place and for operating the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing. as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence' of two witnesses.

JOHN T. KELLY, SR.

Vvfitnesses:

LoUrs BAGGER, AUeUsT PnTnRsoN. 

